25,000 farmers to gherao Assembly

Mumbai: A morcha of 25,000 farmers is on its way to gherao the Legislative Assembly on Monday to press for their demands. The farmers had crossed Shahapur and were reaching Thane on Saturday evening.

The farmers plan to reach Mumbai on Sunday and gherao the Vidhan Bhavan on Monday to protest the State government’s failure to fulfill its promises. A police source said the morcha will not be allowed to reach the Legislative Assembly and will be stopped at Azad Maidan.

Mumbai: A morcha of 25,000 farmers is on its way to gherao the Legislative Assembly on Monday to press for their demands. The farmers had crossed Shahapur and were reaching Thane on Saturday evening.

The farmers plan to reach Mumbai on Sunday and gherao the Vidhan Bhavan on Monday to protest the State government’s failure to fulfill its promises. A police source said the morcha will not be allowed to reach the Legislative Assembly and will be stopped at Azad Maidan.

The farmers are protesting the government’s anti-farmer policies. They are demanding a complete waiver of loans and power bills, and the implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission. “The State government has betrayed us on land rights and forest rights, guaranteed minimum support price and loan waivers. So we are coming to Mumbai to ask the government about our demands,” said Dr Ajit Navale, farmer leader and General Secretary of Kisan Sabha.

The morcha started from Nashik and moved towards Mumbai through Shahapur and Thane. As the march moves along, more farmers from across Maharashtra — from Marathwada, Raigad, Vidarbha and other districts, have joined it. After covering 180 kilometres from its starting point, it will reach Mumbai by Sunday evening. The Mumbai traffic police have made elaborate arrangements for Monday. The farmers began the 180 km-long march from Nashik on Wednesday evening.